“He Who Shall Not Be Named”

In the infamous Harry Potter series, the author, J.K. Rowlings, masterfully increased the drama of the series by not invoking Voldemort’s name.  By so doing, she illustrated the contempt and fear the general populous had for this dark wizard.  In similar manner, many in our culture are refusing to invoke the name of this President, as “he who shall not be named” has become in every manner so contemptible so as to cause many not even to give the mention of his name the light of day.

This unnamed individual, who today unleashed a firestorm of tweets after the Fed chairman, J. Powell issued a warning to central bankers that the Federal (Central) Bank is entering uncharted territories in the US economy.  Chairman Powell warned that it is becoming difficult to develop a plan to manage the economic factors being unleashed by the trade war with China provoked by this president.

Without naming this president, Chairman Powell pointed out this little, insignificant man is unleashing big trouble for our economy.  When his, I repeat “his tariffs” take effect from now until Dec. 1, 2019, it will prove to be enough to depress economic growth by 1% or more.  For this person who likes to tout the “booming economy” as a sign of his presidency’s success, it will be wonderful to see him also be forced to own the coming recession.  Economic factors currently in play predict a slowdown in the economy by the beginning of 2020, just in time to tie this president to a down turning economy.

This president, who shall not be named, is desperately seeking a way to sustain economic growth to enhance his sinking popularity, demanding the Fed chair lower interest rates or assist him in devaluing the dollar to enhance exports.  It is unlikely that the astute traders on Wall Street will take the bait, as Wall Street is becoming spooked since the lowering of long term cost of borrowing while short term borrowing cost rises.  This inverted economic factor has in the past portended a coming recession.   I doubt his president will be able to get out of this house “which Jack built,” as Jack will soon run out of options to save his presidency.  Many of us common folk will rejoice at his failure, but others will be sad.

I will not be sad, as I have prayed to my God from the beginning of this presidency that my (our) God will allow another better human being to take his place!  This president’s appeal to division, racism and the rhetoric of white supremacy along with the denigration of minorities is sickening at best and appalling evil at worse.  I never thought in my lifetime that I would ever witness such a blatant appeal to the baser human instincts of class and power by a leader intent only upon securing his continuing place in the White House.

This individual has no place in our White House!  I pray to God on a daily basis that “the truth of this man and his cohorts will be known for all to see,” so that we might intelligently and carefully choose another president to take his place.  At the same time, a new generation of leaders needs to be elected to the Senate, who will more clearly represent the true diversity and complexity of the people of the United States of America.  Instead of power being placed in the hands of a few rich white men, let power instead be a shared by a community of women and men, of all colors, creeds and economic class, so we can begin to have conversation once again about the melting pot of humanity we call “America”, the home of the free and the brave.

Unless democracy is for everyone, by definition it is for no one.  Unless we overcome our racial and class divisions, there is not much hope for us as a nation and there is no hope for us to become the beacon of light and hope for the oppressed, the poor and the downtrodden of this world. While we have sat idly by and done nothing, Syria has been burned to a crisp by its own rulers with Russian and Iranian assistance.  Millions have been displaced as refugees across this planet. The earth, our home, has continued to warm another portion of a degree toward our oblivion.  The Amazon, which provides up to 25% of the oxygen for this planet is on fire due to blatant deforestation.  And this president sits idly by doing nothing except fretting about his own re-election and hoping to buy Greenland for its natural resources and strategic military value to base nuclear missiles.  Talk about playing the musical instrument while Rome is burning, this man has exceeded Nero Caesar for his idiocrasy!  Talk about fear in the belly; we are moving into a period with a whole lot of it!

I do not know and often wonder if we have passed the moment in which our world and our economic order can be salvaged.  So many opportunities missed, so many resources squandered! Let us cry out to our Lord, “How long, O Lord, how long must we suffer from this madness?” “Is there no one who can save us from our own demise?”  Such self-inflicted wounds, such rampant stupidity!  This is beyond my worst nightmare, beyond what I could have imagined.  And this is only the beginning of sorrows!  May the Lord God in Jesus Christ help us!  May the Lord help us all!

Prayer:  “Lord Jesus Christ, who taketh away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us and hear our prayers.  In your name we pray, the one and only Living God of all creation, of all humankind:  Do not let us go gently into that good night, but instead empower and strengthen your children of this generation to see clearly your will and go forth boldly to perform it!  Show us the difference between the darkness of prejudice, hatred and pride and the light of your gospel of peace and love for all persons and all nations!

Deliver us from prideful greed, covetousness and the desire to live in isolation from one another.  Bring down the walls of division among us, while separating your wheat from the chaff of this creation.  We are not our own, but we belong to You, O Lord Jesus Christ!  Come in this moment and in this hour to save us as your children from the madness of class division, racism, warfare and greed.  Make us to know the love of Jesus once again in our hearts.  Calm the troubled souls so full of anxiety, fear and lack of faith.  Remind us, O Lord, of your gentle and compassionate faithfulness.  Help us to remember you, Lord Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.  For we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our One and Only Blessed Redeemer.  Amen and Amen.

Let all of God’s people say, “Amen!  Amen!  We praise you Lord Jesus Christ!  To Your Holy Name be all praise, honor, glory and blessing, both now and forever.  Amen!”

Bill Wilson, servant of God, by God’s grace and mercies.